College career: He had 47 sacks in three seasons for the Gamecocks, with 13 of them coming during his sophomore season, after which he was being widely labeled the likely first overall pick for 2014. He also got in on 24 tackles for losses that year. He dropped off dramatically last fall (three sacks, 111/2 tackles for losses), and speculation became rampant that he wasn’t going all out to protect his draft status/earning potential. He was slowed by a stomach virus, endured a painful bone spur in his foot and also had a rib-cage injury. Coach Steve Spurrier appeared caught off guard when it was decided at the last minute that Clowney would not play against Kentucky, and the coach-player relationship appeared strained. But after Clowney’s combine results dazzled, the tarnish pretty much disappeared.

Strengths: You name it. He is big, strong, fast (4.51 in the 40), agile, explosive and flexible enough to dip around the tackle, then turn the corner and barrel in on the suddenly defenseless QB. Did we forget anything? His initial burst off the snap causes jaws to drop, and he has a full range of feints and spins. Scouts love his swim move for rushing up the gut, too. He showed excellent vision and instincts, and when he was going full bore, his closing speed was phenomenal. It had a lot to do with why he separated ball carriers from the ball eight times his first two seasons.

Weaknesses: While his unusually long legs make him vulnerable to cut blocks, his athleticism made it difficult for offensive linemen to get in position to successfully deliver their blocks. He has some J.J. Watt in him when it comes to timing his jumps to knock down passes at the line of scrimmage, but he lacks the soft hands to turn deflections into interceptions. Occasional in-game lapses, particularly last season, caused worries about his concentration and conditioning. He is thought to be a less-than-perfect fit at outside linebacker in Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 set because, having played end, he can get lost in coverage.

How will he be used this season? Although a slightly less imposing physical specimen than Mario Williams, the Texans’ and the NFL’s top overall choice in 2006, Clowney is a more finished product and should be able to handle more force-feeding from the outset. Still, look for Crennel to find ways to exploit Clowney’s once-in-a-generation pass-rushing gifts rather than asking him to be an all-around, every-down force as a rookie. While he will be more than a situation player, he definitely will get showcased in situations when he can wreak the most havoc.

College career – He started every game he played in college, 20 at left guard and 20 at left tackle. He was the best player on a very good offensive line last season as the 10-3 Bruins averaged 37 points and 448 yards per game.

Strengths – The highest-rated guard in the draft, he ran a 4.97 in the 40 in his pro-day workout, not too shabby for a 300-pounder. He’s super-strong in the upper body with excellence balance and flexible hips, allowing him to move well laterally in passing situations. The same internal strengths that made him an Eagle Scout as a kid have stayed with him. He kills himself in the weight room. At 23, he’s also more mature than most rookies, having spent two years doing Mormon mission work.

Weaknesses – He sometimes trusts his instincts too much and gets out of position. He doesn’t always come off the ball quickly enough on running plays. Some think he needs to be a little more hard-nosed and driven to fully live up to his potential in the NFL. His fundamentals need fine-tuning to cope with the problems pro D-linemen present.

How he’ll be used this season – He was drafted to replace Wade Smith at left guard. Smith has started the last 64 games there but won’t be re-signed. Because the Texans will rely on their running game more than most teams with Arian Foster’s presumed healthy return and because the quarterback situation is in flux, Su’a Filo needs to be an instant-impact player.

Strengths – He has excellent “straight-line” speed for a man of his size and he takes his blocking duties seriously. Given his size and leg strength, even NFL corners and safeties won’t enjoy trying to tackle him.

Weaknesses – He has problems getting separation and, despite having good hands, he’s surprisingly prone to dropping easy passes. He didn’t instinctively find his way back to the ball when his quarterback was scrambling.

How he’ll be used this season – He’ll be asked to play a key role in short-yardage and clock-killing situations, when the Texans need an extra big-body blocker. Given their presumed run-first orientation, he’s a smarter pick for them than he would have been for many other teams.

College career – He started 11 games each season as a sophomore and junior, making a combined 95 tackles, but played in only seven as a senior, with 27 tackles, after suffering a torn meniscus that required surgery.

Strengths – Projected as a first-round pick (some thought he might go as high as No. 10 to the Titans) because nobody has ever looked more like the prototypic 21st century nose tackle, he stubbornly occupies a lot of space in the center of the scrum, showing remarkably explosiveness off the ball and agility for a man of his girth. He uses his strong hands well, has an eye for the ball and he plays hard with a sometimes angry edge.

Weaknesses – He was overweight to start the season last fall, then got hurt, which could hinder his chances of contributing for the Texans straight away. He struggled with double teams in college, which doesn’t bode well for his handling same at the pro level. He sometimes lets his emotions get the best of him, which will attract undue attention from NFL officials.

How he’ll be used this season – With Earl Mitchell gone, nose tackle is wide open. The Texans signed Jerrell Powe, who played for Romeo Crennel in Kansas City, for insurance, but Nix should be their guy in the middle for years to come, even if he doesn’t establish himself immediately.

College career – Highly recruited out of high school, he earned the starting job as a true freshman for Greg Schiano on a Rutgers team that won nine games. But he lost same after suffering a hand injury as a sophomore and transferred to Arizona, where he never played for Rich Rodriguez, before transferring again to Pitt. A senior co-captain for the Panthers, he threw for 24 touchdowns – completing 61.2 percent of his passes – and scored three himself.

Strengths – He looks the part of an NFL quarterback with broad shoulders and a pretty good arm, if not quite a cannon. He also throws a pretty ball, with a nice, tight spiral. He earned a reputation for physical and mental toughness, particularly when he’s under fire in the pocket. At 24, he’s mature for a rookie.

Weaknesses – In part because of his hard-nosed approach, he tends to be injury prone, getting sidelined twice last season with a concussion and a rib injury. Although he hangs in well against pressure, he struggles eluding the rush and his decision-making needs improvement. He forces ball where they shouldn’t go, and he struggles reading defenses.

How he’ll be used this season – It’s hard to fathom him stepping in and starting straight away, so Ryan Fitzpatrick and Case Keenum will likely duke it out while he learns in the background. Hopefully, he’ll be a sponge. Bill O’Brien’s reputation as a quarterback guru will be put to the test, but he’s got excellent raw material to work with Savage, it would seem.

College career – Although not a starter during his first two seasons when the Tide won national titles, he made 26 tackles with four of them for losses and was in on two sacks. As a starter last fall, he made 34 tackles, four for lost yards and had two sacks.

Strengths – He’s a block of granite who blows off the ball, then holds his ground on running plays, waiting for the action to come to him. Having played at Alabama, he has been well-coached and is used to playing in a big-time environment. The NFL Advisory Committee rated him a potential third-round pick, which is why he decided to come out early.

Weaknesses – He’s not much of a pass rusher, but because he can slide inside in throwing situations, that’s not hugely important. The Alabama coaches, perhaps selfishly, believed he could have used another year of maturing at the college level. He tore ligaments in his knee as a high-school running back, but there doesn’t appear to be any lingering issues.

How he’ll be used this season – With Antonio Smith gone, he’ll given every opportunity to win the starting job at end opposite J. J. Watt in Romeo Crennel’s base defense. Because he can play tackle, too, he’s got versatility going in his favor. He blocked a punt in college so you’ll him on special teams.

College career – LSU was super-deep at running back so he was just one of the cogs, starting only seven games over three seasons. He carried 209 times for 1,253 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had three 100-plus yard games.

Strengths – He’s a good, and good-looking, athlete who might have thrived in a different environment where he could have been a go-to back. He does everything pretty well with no obvious shortcomings and his body hasn’t been subjected to much wear and tear.

How he’ll be used this season – He’ll be given a chance to compete for the backup spot behind Arian Foster and he’ll be expected to contribute on special teams, although played only a tiny role as returner at LSU. Spencer Ware had a similar career as a Tiger and now plays a niche role for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks. That’s a model Blue will likely follow.

College career – He began his career at Illinois, where he excelled as a special-teamer and was the primary fullback as a sophomore. After transferring to Auburn to be closer to his mother, who was dying of brain cancer, he became the regular H-back/fullback and started on three special teams. He caught a 56-yard pass against Texas A&M last fall.

Strengths – He was rated the best lead blocker in the draft, but this shows how minimally important NFL teams consider fullbacks these days. He’s decisive and determined and his strength makes him an effective pass protector. (Pretty good hands, too, so Texans might look at him in the passing game.) He’s got a big motor in the weight room and on the field.

College career – He became a full-time starter at Vanderbilt as a junior and then took his game to a higher level as a senior with 49 tackles – making 6½ behind the line of scrimmage – three picks and 18 passes defensed. He earned second-team All-SEC honors at corner both years. He also averaged 23 yards per kick return with a touchdown.

Weaknesses – Overall size, short arms and small hands could get him overwhelmed at times in the NFL. He doesn’t recover well when beat by a receiver and sometimes reacts slowly. He was never asked to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage, which he’d have to do as an NFL corner.

College career – He earned his first start as a true freshman against the University of Houston and wound up playing in 42 games for Memphis, intercepting only three passes with just one sack. He has five passes defensed as a senior. He had a 15-tackle game as a junior.

Strengths – He showed big-league quickness at his pro day, running the 40 in 4.39 and he managed 18 reps in the 225-pound bench press. Also, he’s Seahawks-sized DB, which isn’t a terrible trend to emulate.

Weaknesses – Despite his athleticism and range frame, he didn’t distinguish himself as a playmaker, which is how he wound up being the last player drafted. His speed is mostly of the straight-ahead variety.